Seam finishing machine



May 3, 1932. y TERRY 1,856,174

SEAN FINISHING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 3, 1932. v. G. TERRY SEAM FINISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Filed July 12. 1929 May 3, 1932. v. e. TERRY SEAM FINISHING MACHINE Filed July 12, 19-29 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Patented May 3, 1932 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE VINCENT G. TERRY, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGINOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATE-RSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW' JERSEY SEAM FINISHING MACHINE Application filed July 12,

in required effectively to set the scam in its finished condition.

F or the performance of the first function mentioned above seam finishing machines have commonly been provided with a seam l guidin means and a spreading tool to which the seam is directed by the guiding means. The above meutioned guiding means and spreading tool are ordinarily arranged to cooperate with a work support over which the work is fed, and prepare a seam in the work for the flattening or pressing operation by spreading and turning the upstanding porti one of the seam one at either side thereof.

It is one object of this invention to providr improved means for guiding the seam of a piece of work to a seam flattening mechanism and for preparing the seam for the flattening operation. In accordance with th s object of the invention the illustrated machine is provided with means for guiding the seam out a piece of work as it passes to a spreading tool so that the latter is engaged between the upstanding portions of the seam, said means being constructed and arranged to guide the work by contact therewith along the line of stitchin This means as illustrated comprises a pair of co-operating guides which are relieved to provide a narrow work engaging portion and to allow the upstanding portion of ti e seam above the stitching to pass freely therebetween.

Furt er to insure the seam being guided in alinement with the spreading tool, the guir:liu means are constructed to engage the upstaniling portion of the seam longitudially thereof over a relatively long distance in order to hten the seam as it passes to the spreading tool; and. in order to equalize the lateral pressure of the upstanding portion of the seam against the spreading tool,

1929. Serial No. 377,805.

the illustrated guiding means also have narrow work engaging faces arranged to engage the upstanding portions of the seam transversely across the entire height thereof in close proximity to the adjacent edge of the spreading tool.

A guiding device constructed as above described operates advantageously since it tends to grip the upstanding portions of aseam with a constant pressure, its action not being altered substantially by a variation in the height of the upstanding portion of the seam. It is also believed to be apparent from the foregoing that even a seam the upstanding portions of which are relatively low Will not be wedged out from between the guides and under one of them, which would result in both of the upstanding portions of the seam being jammed between the spreading tool and a guide.

In order to guide a seam in alinement with the spreading tool, irrespective of variations in the thickness of the scam, the guiding means as illustrated are arranged to yield laterally with respect to the work support, their separation being controlled by connections between them whereby a movement of either guide causes an equal movement of the other in the opposite direction. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the guiding means are pivotally mounted and the above-mentioned connections between them for equalizing their movement comprise meshing segmental gears.

Ordinarily, the seam spreading tools or plows of seam flattening machines are restrained from lateral movement with respect to the work supports. In such machines the firmness of an upstanding portion of the seam is relied upon to some extent to prevent the entire seam from passing to one side of the spreading tool or plow if the seam is fed out of alinement therewith; and it is apparent that in View of the nature of upper leather the resistance to such a movement of the seam is slight.

It is, therefore, another object of the invention to provide an improved seam spreading means and, in accordance with this object, the illustrated spreading tool is constructed to yield in any direction and is arranged to be urged toward a position of alinement with the central portion of the work support. As a result of this construction the spreading tool remaining between the upstanding portions of the seam during a slight lateral displacement thereof tends to hold the seam in a central position; but should the spreading tool fail to remain between the upstanding portion of the seam it immediately will be urged between them again, thus obviating any danger of jamming of the seam and the setting of the seam all to one side of the stitching, as soon as that danger arises.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved means for effectively flattening seams which will reduce to a minimum the danger of rupturing the work or the stitching. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention this result is attained by causing the pressing tool to impinge directly upon the seam and by minimizing the relative motion between the pressing tool and the seam longitudinally thereof.

In order that the first-mentioned result may obtain, and in accordance with this feature of the invention the illustrated work support is mounted yieldingly to hold the seam being operated upon well within the path of the pressing tool, all points at the work engaging face of which travel in closed paths which, in the illustrated machine, are substantially elliptical, the major axes thereof being substantially normal to the adjacent portions of the work support. All portions of the operating faces of the pressing tool are thus brought directly into contact with the seam.

The illustrated machine is also constructed so that only one end of the pressing tool strikes the seam when it first comes in contact with the work. As above stated, this portion of the work engaging face of the pressing tool urges the seam against the yielding pressure of the work support whereby the pressing tool may secure a firm grip on the work at the beginning of its feeding movement when the resistance to such movement is the greatest. As the pressing tool continues in its movement carrying the work with it over the work support, the point of contact of the work engaging face of the pressing tool with the seam being flattened progresses in a direction opposite to that of the feed of the work and toward the end of the pressing tool adjacentto the spreading tool. As a result a considerable length of the seam is operated upon during each cycle of the pressing tool, insuring a well flattened seam together with a relatively rapid feeding of the work.

In order that the second condition mentioned above shall obtain and in accordance with another feature of the invention, the work engaging face of the illustrated pressing tool is provided with a plurality of sharp teeth having a positive rake and clearance so that the pressing tool, continuing beyond the position in which itfirst contacts with the work, carries the work along with it over the work support until the pressure between them is relieved, during which period the work is carried substantially as far as the pressing tool moves longitudinally of the seam while it is in contact therewith. In order that the teeth of the pressing tool shall not strike the same spots operated 011 during a previous cycle, the teeth are arranged in staggered relation at varying distances apart, none of which is equal to the distance throu h which the work is fed durin each D D stroke of the pressing tool. It will now be apparent that, although the seam is flattened by relatively sharp teeth extending crosswise thereof, by the time that any portion of the seam will have entirely passed under the pressing too-l it will have received a relatively great number of closely spaced blows.

These and other features of the invention will'become more apparent from the following description of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation, with parts in section of a seam pressing machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view along the line IL-II in Fig. 1 showing the mounting for the spreading tool in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the work engaging portions of the operating tools viewed similarly as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the mechanism for controlling the motion of the pressing tool;

Fig. 6 is a plan view, with parts in section, illustrating the operative relation of the guides, the spreading tool, and the pressing tool;

Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the spreading tool and a part of the guides in section along the line VIIVII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view, illustrating the operation of the spreading tool, taken along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is another sectional view illustrating the operation of the pressing tool taken along the line lX-IX in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 illustrates in perspective the spreading tool.

A piece of work 20 (Figs. 1 and 4) to be operated upon in the illustrated machine is placed centrally over the work support 22 so that the upstanding portions 24: of a seam in the work pass between opposed guides 26, 28 which are arranged to yield laterally with respect to the work support to accommodate variations in the thickness of the upstanding portions of the seam. The guides 26, 28 direct the work 20 over the work support 22 so that a spreading tool is engaged between the upstanding portions of the seam, spreading them one at either side thereof, as indicated in Fig. 8. The upstanding portions of the seam upon leaving the spreading tool 30 are next operated upon by a pressing tool 32 having an orbital movement, as indicated in i ig. 3, which tool impinges upon the seam to flatten the upstanding portions thereof against the remainder of the work, as illustrated in Fig. 9.

The work support 22 is arranged to rotate :idly on a shaft 34 fixed in the extremities of a yoke which is slidably received in the frame The work support is yielding- 1y urgei'l toward the operating tools above referred to and is held in alinement therewith by any suitable means such as that illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States l O. 1,735,272, granted November 19, 1929, in the name of iv. C. Meyer.

The guides 26, 28, together with the spreading tool 30, are indirectly mounted on the frame 38 by means of a. slide 40 which is capable of vertical adjustment with respect to the frame and which may be clamped to the frame in adjusted position by means of a nut 4-2 which in threaded engagement with a stud let fixed to the frame. The guides and the spreading tool may thus be adjusted roughly vertically with respect to the work support by the means above described. A liner vertical adjustment of the guides 26, 28 with respect to the work support 22 is obtained by a thumb screw 16, shoulders 48 on which are arranged to abut opposite sides of the bifurcated end 50 of the slide etO. The thumb screw $26 is threaded into the upper end of a slide 52 which is held against the slide 40 by means of a spring 54: about the stud H, which spring may be compressed to any de sired degree by means of lock nuts 56. The guides 28, 28 are supported by rock arms 58, 60, respectively, which are pivoted to the slide by means of pins 62 and 64: respectively.

The guides 26, 28 are yieldingly urged to ward one another by means comprising spring 66 and 68 which abut at their inner ends trunnioned bearings 70 and 72, respectively, through which extends a thumb screw 7-1- which, by contact with the outer extremitics ot the springs (36 and 68, holds them compressed. The distance by which the guides 26 and 28 are separated, when there is no work therebetween, may be regulated by means of the thumb screw 74 which is threaded into a sleeve 76 abutting the inner side of the bearing 72. It will now be apparent that the springs (56 and 68 hold the corresponding rock arms against the adjacent shoulders on the thumb screw 74, one shoulder being at 78 and the other at the righthand end of the sleeve 76 as seen in Fig. By turning the screw 7 at, the distance between the shoulders is accordingly varied and hence the space between the guides 26 and 28 may be changed by a corresponding amount to facilitate feeding ditt'erent classes of work to the guides with ease.

It commonly happens that the thickness of the upstanding portions of a seam in a piece of work being operated upon varies appreciably. Such variations cause the guides 26, 28 to rotate about their pivot points (32 and 64 against the resistance of the springs 66 and 68. In order that such a seam will be guided in alincment with the spreading tool, the guides are connected by means so constructed that a movement of either guide is accompanied by an equal movementot the other in an opposite direction. In the illusratcd embodiment of the invention this means comprises segmental gears 80 and 82 which mesh with each other and are formed on eX- tensions of the rock arms 58 and 60 respectively.

The guides 26, 28 are clamped to the rock arn 58 and 60, respectively, by means of screws 84 ins a'ted into collars 86 which surround reduced ends 88 of the guides between bifurcations in the rock arms. As illustrated more plainly in Figs. 1 and 7, the bottom portions of the guides 26 and 28 are shaped in conformity with the work engaging surface of the work support whereby the work in passing therebetween is controlled from both sides and cannot buckle. The inner faces of the guides are also relieved, as indicated at 90 (Fig. 7), so that they engage the upstanding portion of the work substantiah 1y at the line of stitching. As further indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, this relatively narrow work engaging portion 92 of the guides eX- tends along an appreciable length of the seam at the line of stitching, thereby more surely to direct the seam being operated upon in alinemcnt with the spreading tool. It will now be apparent that the action of the guides will not be altered by any ordinary variation in the height of the upstanding portions of the seam since they contact with the work over the greater portion'oi their length only substantially at the line of the stitching. Itis desirable, however, that the upstanding portions of the seam as it is guided to the spreading tool exert an equal pressure at either side of the spreading tool to obviate any tendency of the seam and the spreading tool to become misalined. To this end the guides at the portion adjacent to the spreading tool are provided with a narrow vertically disposed work engaging surface 94, as most clearly shown in F igs. 1 and (l, for guiding the upstanding portions of the seam symmetrically toward the spreading tool, thereby insurin that their lateral pressure against the spreading tool will be the same either side thereof.

The spreadii'ig tool 30 is supported by a slide 96 which is arranged for movement toward and from the work support in a slideway 98 which fixed to the slide 10 by means of a screw 109. The slide 96 is urged downwardly carrying the spreading tool toward the work support by means of a spring 102 which abuts the upper end of an extension 10 1 of the slide 96. The movement of the slide toward the work support may be adjustably limited by a thumb screw 106 which is threaded into the slideway 98 and against the head of which screw the slide 96 abuts when in its lowermost position. As illustrated in 10, two sides 109 of the spreading tool are convergent; and when the spreading tool is in normal position with respect to the slide 96 the sides 109 of the tool engagethe edges of a longitudinal channel in the slide 96, thereby insuring their alinement. The spreading tool is held against the slide 96 by means of a spring 108 (Figs. 1 and 2) surrounding a screw 110 which is fixed to the slide 96 and which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, coincides with the longitudinal channel in the slide. In order further to assist the spreading tool 'toaline itself with the slide 96, the hole therein through which the screw 110 passes is tapered, the larger end being toward the slide 96. By virtue of the connections above describe: it is apparent that the work engagin portion of the spreading tool may be moved in any direction against the pressures of either or both of the springs 108 and 102 and that the spreading tool is always resiliently urged toward a position of alinement with the slide 96 and hence with the work support 22. It will now be apparent that a tendency of the seam to become misalined with the spreading tool will immediately be accompanied by a pressure of the spreading tool tending to move the seam back into alinement with its central position. Furthermore, should the spreading tool fail to remain between the upstanding portions of the seam, owing to the operation of the connections above described, the tool will be urged back into alinement with the seam, hence obviating the danger of jamming the work between the spreading tool and a guide or the setting of both of the upstanding edges of the seam at one side thereof.

The. work engaging face of the separating tool 30 comprises two concave surfaces 111 which converge to a sharp edge at the side of the tool adjacent to the guides and at the end of the tool adjacent to the work support. These surfaces 111 flare toward the rear of the tool so that the included angle, measured in a plane substantially normal to the work support, substantially ninety degrees, as indicated in Fig. 8.

The seam, upstanding portions of which have been turned one at either side of the spreading tool as above described, is next operated upon by the pressing tool which flattens the upstanding portions of the seam against the work support, as indicated in Fig. 9. For the purpose hereinbefore explained, the illustrated machine is constructed so that the pressing tool is caused to impinge directly upon the work. To insure such an operation of the pressing tool, it has been con structed and arranged, as illustrated, to operate in an elliptical path the major axis of which is substantially normal to the work engaging surface of the work support.

The pressing tool is driven from a shaft 112 journaled in the fran e 38 in bearings 11 1. The portion of the shaft 112 between the bearings 11 1 car ies an eccentric 116 which drives a holder 118 for the pressing tool. The circular movement imparted by the eccentric 116 to the upper end of the holder 118 is moditicd adjacent to the pressing tool 30 by mechanism comprising a cross-head 120 fixed to the lower end of the pressing tool holder 118, the cross-head being arranged to slide in a guide 122 which is pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine. The cross-head 120 is fixed to the tool holder by means of a stud 124 passing through a hole 126 in the tool holder and a nut 128 which, when threaded on the stud 124, will draw the cross-head tightly against the tool holder. The crosshead 120 is held in predetermined position with respect to the tool holder by means of a pin 130 which is engaged within a corresponding perforation in the holder when the parts are in assembled relation. The crosshead guide 122 is pivoted by means of a pin 132 to one side 13st of a bracket, the other side 136 of which is held in assembled relation therewith by means of screws 138 and 140, the two sides being held in spaced relation by means of a boss 1 12 on the sides 134: of the bracket and a separating sleeve 144 (Fig. 5). The bracket is sustained in the frame of the machine on three rods 1 16, 14:8 and 150 (Fig. 1), both ends of the rods being supported in the frame of the machine. The lower ends of the cross-head guide 122 are reinforced by a screw 152 by means of which they may be securely held in abutting relation with the ends of a sleeve 15 1 which also serves as a bearing for the cross-head guide contacting with the outer face of the crosshead 120. The illustrated pressing tool 32 is secured to the end of the tool holder 118 by means of screws 156, but these parts might be made integral if such a construction should be preferred.

It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that, by virtue of the relation of the elliptical path of the pressing tool and the work support, the pressing tool is traveling in acurve having arelatively great radius of curvature when it approaches the work support. Furthermore, when the machine is correctly adjusted, the work support is yieldingly held within the path of the end of the pressing tool farthest from the spreading tool, thereby holding the work on the support well within the elliptical path of the pressing tool. It follows, therefore, that when the pressing tool first strikes the seam it moves in a di rection substantially perpendicular thereto.

As the pressing tool, continuing in its path beyond the point at which it first contacts with the work, causes the work support to be depressed, the work is also fed over the support per cycle of the tool by an amount corresponding substantially to the component of the tools motion parallel to the workengaging surface of the work support wnile it is in contact with the work. To insure such a positive feeding action the work engaging face of the pressing tool comprises a plurality of teeth 158 having sharp edges extending crosswise thereof. It will further be noted from Fig. 3 that the teeth of the illustrated pressing tool have a positive rake; that is, the faces 160 of the teeth recede from a normal to the direction of the feeding motion. The teeth also have relieved bases l62 to provide clearance for the work behind the edges of the tool. Not only does the form of the teeth of the illustrated pressing tool in sure a minimum of movement between the tool and the work by virtue of their sharpness, but they also insure a permanence of set to the folded portions of the seam by upsetting or straining the work beyond the point of elastic recovery across narrow areas corresponding to the edges of the teeth of the pressing tool. It may be noted, however, that the above description relating to the clearance and rake of the work engaging teeth does not apply to the tooth nearest to the spreading tool, which tooth has been so formed that it may contact with the work closely adjacent to the spreading tool, and for the sake of strength a negative rake is required.

The illustrated opera-ting means for the pressing tool is constructed and ar "anged so that the work engaging face of the pressing tool rocks over the work during the period when they are in contact. Hence the point of contact of the pressing tool and the work progresses from one end of the pressing tool to the other toward the spreading tool. It will now be apparent that although the pressure of the tool is concentrated over a limited length of the seam, owing to the progres sion of the point of contact of the tool and work, an appreciable extent of the seam is op erated upon during each cycle of the pressing tool.

To insure an even and permanent setting of the upstanding portions of the seam in spite of the spaced relation of the teeth of the pressing tool, the teeth are arranged in staggered relation, being separated by varying distances no one of which is equal to the distance through which the work is fed per cycle of the tool. It follows then that by the time that any portion of the work being operated upon will have passed from one end of the pressing tool to the other, it will have received a great many closely spaced blows from the pressing tool.

l urther to insure the seam being effectively set, the illustrated pressing tool is arranged to be heated electrically. To this end an electric heating unit 16% is received in areoess in the rear port-ion of the pressing tool holder 118. The heating unit may be connected to a source of power by a cable 166. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters latent of the United States is:

1. In a seam pressing machine, a seam spreading tool formed and arranged to enter between the upstanding portions of a scam in a piece of work fed thereto, and means for straightening the work and for guiding the upstanding portions of the scam in alinement with the spreading tool, said means comprising cooperating fingers having work engaging faces arranged to contact with only the portion of the seam which is in proximity to the line of stitching to straighten it and along a narrow width lie ghtwise of the seam to guide it in alinement with the spreading tool.

in a seam pressing machine, a seam spreading tool arranged to enter between the upstandng portions of a seam in a piece of work fed thereto, and means in uxtaposition to the spreading tool for guiding the work thereto arranged first to straighten the seam longitudinally thereof by engagement with an appreciable length of only the portion of the seam in proximity to the line of stitching and then to aline the upstanding portions of the scam transversely thereof with the spreading tool by helghtwise engagement with the seam in close proximity to the adjacent edge of the spreading tool.

8. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and means for directing a piece of work centrally over the support by engagement with the upstanding portion of a seam only at the portion thereof in proximity to the line of stLtching.

l. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and means for directing a piece of work over the support comprising cooperating guides constructed and arranged to engage the upstanding portion of a seam longitudinally only in proximity to the line of stitching, said guides being relieved to allow the extremities of the upstanding portion of the seam to pass freely therebetween.

5. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and means for guiding a piece of work centrally over the support, said guiding means being constructed and arranged resiliently to engage the upstanding portion of the seam only in proximity to the line of stitching and to hold the work against the support.

6. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and means for directing a piece of work fed over the support comprising a pair of cooperating guides and connections between said guides whereby a movement of either causes an equal movement of the other in the opposite direction.

7. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, means for directing a piece of work centrally over the support comprising a pair of pivoted guides arranged to yield laterally with respect to the support, and means connecting said guides whereby the motion of each is controlled by that of the other.

8. In a scam pressing machine, a work sup port, means for directing a piece of work centrally over the support comprising a pair 0"? pivotally mounted guides arranged to engage the upstanding portion of a seam substantially at the line of stitching, and means connecting said guides for urging said guides toward each other arranged adj ustably to limit their separation.

9. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, pivotally mounted fingers for guiding work over the support arranged to engage the upstanding portion of a seam and to yield laterally with respect to said support to accommodate variations in the thickness of the work, and coacting extensions on said fingers whereby a movement of either finger causes an equal movement of the other in the opposite direction thereby to maintain the upstanding portion of the seam in a central position with respect to the support.

10. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, guides arranged to yield toward and away from each other cooperating with the support for directing the seam of a piece of work centrally over the support, and connections between said guides for maintaining them at equal distances from the support.

11. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, yielding guides cooperating therewith to direct a scam in a piece of work over the support, and gears connected with said guides arranged to mesh with each other and cause a movement of either guide to be imparted to the other in the opposite direction thereby to insure that the seam will be guided centrally over the roll irrespective of variations in its thickness.

12. In a seam pressing machine, in combination, a work support, cooperating guides for directing a piece of work so that a seam therein passes centrally over the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guides capable of movement in any direction,

- and means for urging said spreading tool toward a position of alinement with the central portion of the work support.

13. .In a seam pressing machine, in combination, a work support, cooperating guides for directing a piece of work so that a seam therein passes centrally over the support,

connections between said guides for maintaining them at equal distances from the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guides capable of movement in any direction, and means for urging said spreading tool toward a position of alinement with the central portion of the work support.

14:. In a seam pressing machine, in combination, a work'support, cooperating guides for directing a piece of work so that a seam therein passes centrally over the support, connections between said guides for maintaining them at equal distances from the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guides capable of movement in any direction, and means for urging said spreading tool toward a position of alinement with the central portion of the work support.

15. In a seam pressing machine, in coin-- bination, a work support, a spreading tool for separating the upstanding portions of a scam in a piece of work fed over the support, guides movable toward and away from each other constructed and arranged direct he seam toward said spreading tool, and means for equalizing the movements of the guides whereby the seam, irrespective of variations in its thickness, is guided in alinement with the spreading tool.

16. In a seam pressing machine, in combination, a work support, means for guiding a piece of Work over the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guiding means, and a mounting for said spreading tool constructed and arranged to allow the work engaging portion of the spreading tool to move in any direction.

17. In a seam pressing machine, in com bination, a work support, means for guiding a piece of work over the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guiding means, and a support for said spreading tool arranged to allow a yielding movementof the work engaging portion of the spreading tool in any direction.

18. In a seam pressing machine, in combination, a work support, means for guiding a piece of work so that a seam therein passes centrally over the support, a seam spreading tool in juxtaposition to said guiding means, a support for said spreading tool a'ranged yieldingly to urge the tool toward the work support in a direction substantially normal thereto, said spreading tool being arranged to pivot about an axis perpendicular to the direction of movement of its support, and means for yieldingly resisting the pivotal movement of the spreading tool.

19. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, means for guiding a piece of work so that a seam therein passes centrally over the support, a seam spreading tool having convergent sides, a grooved support for said tool, and connections between said support and said tool allowing the tool to move in any direction and for urging the tool so that convergent sides engage the edges of the groove in said support, thereby to aline said tool therewith.

20, In a seam pressing machine, in com bination, a work support, means for guiding a piece of work so that the upstanding portion of a 1m therein passes centrally over the supp a tool in juxtaposition said guiding means for spreading the seam, a support for said spreading tool, a spring for urging said last-mentioned support toward said work support, means or ad list-ably li1niting the movement of said spreading tool support, and resilient connections between said spreading tool and its support allowing the tool to yield in any direction.

21. In a seam pressing machine, a seam spreading tool formed and arranged to enter between the upstanding portions of a 5 *am, guiding means for directing a piece of work so that a seam therein is presented to the spreading tool in alinement therewith, a pressing tool, and a support for the spreading tool constructed yieldingly to hold said tool in alincment with the pressing tool whereby the work may be guided centrally thereto.

In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a seam pressing tool, means for operating said tool toward and from said sup port in a closed path, and means arranged normally to hold the support within the path ot the pressing tool.

In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a. seam pressing tool, means for operating said tool continuously in an orbital path, and means coi'istructed and arranged to urge said support within the path of the pressing tool whereby it is caused to impinge directly upon the work with a rapid succession of blows.

2-.t. In seam pressing machine, a work support, a seam pressing tool, means for operating said tool in an elliptical path the major axis of which is substantially normal to the work engaging portion of the support, and a mounting for said support constructed and arranged yieldingly to hold it well within the path of the pressing tool whereby the latter is caused to impinge directly upon a piece of work fed over the support.

25. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a moving seam pressing tool for flattening the upstanding portions of a scam in a piece of work fed over the support, and means constructed and arranged to operate said tool to cause all points on its operating face to move in closed paths the major axes of which are substantially normal to the adjacent portions of the work support.

26. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a seam pressing tool for flattening the upstanding portions of a scam in a piece of work ted over the support, means for operating said tool in an orbital path, and means for yieldingly supporting the work to be pressed well within the path of the pressing tool whereby the surface of the Work is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the tools motion at the point where the tool and the work are brought into engagement.

27. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a seam pressing tool for flattening the upstanding portions of a scam in a piece of work fed over the support, means for operating said tool continuously in an elliptical path the major axis of which is substantially normal to the work engaging portion of the support, and means for yieldingly holding said support within the path of the tool so that it impinges upon the work substantially perpendicularly thereto with a rapid succession of blows.

28. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a scam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of work engaging teeth separated by varying distances, and means for causing the tool to impinge upon the seam with a rapid succession of blows.

29. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting aseam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of work engaging teeth disposed crosswise thereof separated by varying distances, and means for causing the tool to impinge upon the seam with a rapid succession of blows.

30. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a scam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of sharp teeth separated by varying distances, and means for operating said tool to impinge upon the seam with a rapid succession of blows.

31. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a scam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of sharp Work engaging teeth having a posi tive rake.

32. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a scam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a. plurality of work engaging teeth having clearance and a positive rake.

33. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a seam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of work engaging teeth having clearance and a positive rake, said teeth also being separated by varying distances.

34. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, and a pressing tool cooperating therewith for flattening and setting a seam in a piece of work and for feeding it over the support, said tool comprising a plurality of work engaging teeth having clearance and a positive rake, said teeth also being disposed crosswise of the tool and separated by varying distances.

35. In a seam pressing machine, a work support, a seam pressing tool, and means for operating said tool in an orbital path, said tool being so constructed and arranged that its point of contact with the work progresses from oneend of the Work engaging face of the tool to the other, thereby concentrating the pressure of the tool in a small area progressively along an appreciable length of the work per cycle of the tool.

36. In a seam pressing machine, a yielding work support, a seam pressing tool having a plurality of sharp teeth, and means for operating said tool in an orbital path to impart a rapid succession of blows to a seam in apiece of work on said support and to feed it over the support, said tool being constructed and arranged to rock over the work on the support whereby the pressure of the tool is progressively concentrated on relatively short lengths of the seam.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

VINCENT G. TERRY. 

